June 18th, 2008 by Administrator
The following is a very good and important question:
How long should I wait after eating before practicing asana?
Just as you don’t eat right before going for a run, it is important to have the stomach (and preferably the bowels) as empty as possible before performing yogasana. Not only will this precaution help reduce discomfort in the practice, but it protects healthy and wellbeing. Asana can work far deeper than the body’s surface. Many poses provided a self-massage to the internal organs, such as ardha matsyendrasana (seated spinal twist) and other twisting poses. Inversions, such as sirsana (headstand) and sarvangasana (shoulderstand), powerfully affect the digestive system.
yum.
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June 14th, 2008 by Administrator
Before heading out to class this morning, I wanted to share two little things with you.
The first is a quote by Swami Sivanada.
“A desire arises in the mind. It is satisfied, immediately, another comes. In the interval which separate two desires, a perfect calm reigns in the mind. It is at this moment freed from all thought, love, or hate, complete peace equally reigns between two mental waves.”
- Swami Sivananda
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June 10th, 2008 by Administrator
When I first started practicing yogasana, I never imagined I could possibly find steadiness or comfort in arm balances. Not only did I feel that I lacked the required strength to perform these balances, but I had a fear of falling flat on my face.
Sundar performing bakasana, crane/crow pose, in Tamil Nadu last December.
I watched my yoga teachers in wonder as they effortlessly lifted their bodies and hovered their torsos above the earth for long intervals of time. For a while, I shied out of trying to follow them. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 8th, 2008 by Administrator
It is a beautiful, hot Sunday morning in New York. Before heading up to a Mysore Ashtanga session, I would like to share this quote by Swami Sivananda.
“Forget like a child any injury done by somebody immediately. Never keep it in the heart. It kindles hatred.”
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June 7th, 2008 by Administrator
My apologies for not updating sooner. It has been a bit of an unusual (and very nice) week. My wonderful friend Jessica is unexpectedly in town from Philly, too. It’s great to see her.
I am going to extend upon this little post about arm balances shortly – tips and more.
In the meantime, please feel free to review some poses on yogajournal.com
Click here for a link for Bhujapdasana, shoulder-pressing pose.
A lot of arm balancing requires a steady gaze and engagement of the abdominal muscles.
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June 3rd, 2008 by Administrator
Well, my dear friend and fellow yoga teacher Maggie Converse and I started our New York Energy 4 Orphans community classes last night! The evening was a success and we’re looking forward to next week. Thank you to those of you who came on out!
The school at Deenabandhu Trust, in Chamrajanagar, Karnataka, South India
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June 1st, 2008 by Administrator
Happy June!
I’m in Connecticut printing away for my July photography show. The weather is gorgeous!
I was browsing the bookshelf and picked up my copy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Love, Kindness, and Universal Responsibility.
Remember the potential strength and beauty in everything large and small.
Here is a brief excerpt:
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May 30th, 2008 by Administrator
The New York Times has published a number of informative articles on yoga and meditation this week, in particular Lotus Therapy, from Tuesday’s Science Times, and A Super Highway to Bliss, from the Sunday Style section. I recommend reading both of these! Each addresses the neurological impact of mindfulness meditation in different ways. Then there was this week’s New York Times Thursday Style Fitness article Yoga, Take Me to a Higher Place, which has been the subject of a number of my recent conversations.
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